Ayodhya Deepotsav 2026: 30 lakh diyas to light 56 ghats, Guinness record targeted
Synopsis
Ayodhya is gearing up for its most ambitious Deepotsav yet — 30 lakh earthen lamps across 56 ghats, 35,000 trained volunteers, and a live Guinness World Record attempt. In the wake of the Ram temple consecration, the festival has become a high-stakes annual showcase of Uttar Pradesh's cultural ambitions and Ayodhya's global spiritual identity.
Key Takeaways
More than 30 lakh diyas will light up 56 ghats along the Saryu riverfront in Ayodhya on 23 October 2026 .
Organisers are targeting a new Guinness World Record , with arrangements aligned to official standards.
Over 35,000 volunteers from Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University , 30 degree colleges , and 40 intermediate colleges have been deployed.
Volunteers will receive QR-coded identity cards with ghat-wise assignments to prevent duplication.
Vice-Chancellor Bijendra Singh cited the post- Pran Pratishtha era as a driver of global interest in the event.
Ayodhya's Deepotsav 2026 is shaping up to be a landmark celebration, with more than 30 lakh earthen lamps (diyas) set to illuminate the city's iconic Saryu riverfront and 56 ghats on 23 October. Organisers are aiming to set a new Guinness World Record, according to Uttar Pradesh government officials overseeing preparations.
Scale of the Celebration
The annual festival of lamps has grown steadily since the consecration of the Ram temple, and this edition is the most ambitious yet. More than 56 ghats along the Saryu are being demarcated after an extensive clean-up drive, with marking of the riverfront underway. The allocation of lamps, management of oil and wicks, and final ghat-wise deployment plans are currently being finalised by the Deepotsav committees and the district administration.
Special emphasis has been placed on aligning all arrangements with Guinness World Records standards, officials said, to ensure no procedural obstacles arise during the count and lighting.
35,000 Volunteers Mobilised
The logistics operation relies on a force of more than 35,000 volunteers drawn from Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University, 30 degree colleges, and 40 intermediate colleges. Each volunteer is being trained on campus across various faculties and departments, with instructions covering the precise arrangement of diyas along a prescribed grid, oil and wick management, and completing tasks within a set timeframe.
To streamline deployment and prevent duplication, all volunteers will be registered online and issued identity cards embedded with QR codes, photographs, and ghat-wise deployment locations.
What University Leadership Said
Bijendra Singh, Vice-Chancellor of Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University, described Deepotsav as 'a grand celebration reflecting the radiance of Sanatan culture, faith of the masses, and their collective devotion.' He noted that following the Pran Pratishtha — the consecration of the idol of Lord Ram in the grand temple — global attention has shifted to Ayodhya's annual festival of lamps.
Why This Edition Matters
Ayodhya's Deepotsav has set multiple world records in recent years for the sheer number of simultaneously lit diyas. Notably, each successive edition since the Ram temple's consecration has drawn larger crowds and greater institutional participation. The Uttar Pradesh government has positioned the event as a showcase of the city's cultural heritage and its rising profile as a global spiritual destination.
With a coordinated grid-based lighting system and strict Guinness-compliant protocols in place, organisers are confident of surpassing previous benchmarks. The radiant spectacle is expected to draw pilgrims, tourists, and global media to the Saryu ghats on the night of the festival.
Point of View
Quantifiable brand moment. What mainstream coverage often underplays is the institutional machinery behind the spectacle: a university pressed into service as a logistics arm, thousands of students trained for a single evening's performance. The bigger question is whether the infrastructure built around Deepotsav is translating into year-round economic and civic uplift for Ayodhya's residents, or whether the city remains a backdrop for annual headline moments.
NationPress
23 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Ayodhya Deepotsav 2026?
Ayodhya Deepotsav 2026 is being held on 23 October, coinciding with Diwali celebrations along the Saryu riverfront. More than 30 lakh earthen lamps are set to illuminate 56 ghats on that evening.
How many diyas will be lit at Ayodhya Deepotsav 2026?
Organisers plan to light more than 30 lakh diyas across 56 ghats along the Saryu riverfront, according to Uttar Pradesh government officials. The event is also targeting a new Guinness World Record.
How many volunteers are involved in Deepotsav preparations?
More than 35,000 volunteers from Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University, 30 degree colleges, and 40 intermediate colleges are being deployed. They are trained in grid-based diya arrangement, oil and wick management, and ghat-wise coordination.
Is Ayodhya Deepotsav attempting a Guinness World Record?
Yes, organisers have emphasised that all arrangements must meet Guinness World Records standards to avoid procedural obstacles during the count and lighting. Ayodhya has set world records for simultaneous diya lighting in previous editions.
Why has Ayodhya's Deepotsav gained greater significance after the Ram temple consecration?
Following the Pran Pratishtha — the consecration of the idol of Lord Ram in the grand temple — global and national attention has intensified around Ayodhya's annual celebrations. Vice-Chancellor Bijendra Singh of Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University noted that the event now carries the weight of global spiritual and cultural visibility.
